Mackrides sends Villa Maria to state title game

EXETER TWP—For both Donegal and Villa Maria, things were just a tinybit off on the offensive side.

Balls were banging off the post.Shooters usually as reliable as death and taxes were seeing goalswaved off as too high for the initial shot on a corner. It was twoteams that, thanks to some random quirkiness—and some very, very gooddefense—just couldn’t find the back of the cage for two halves ofregulation and over 10 minutes of overtime.

So naturally, the game winner came on a goal that worked out just likeyou draw it up in practice. Villa Maria’s Amelia Iacobucci came upwith a defensive steal, and brought it up the right side. CarolineMackrides, who had just subbed into the game moments earlier, got herself in position in the circle, and Iacobucci put a pass right on herstick. Mackrides then worked around Donegal goalie Kylee Bair andslipped it into the cage for the win, sending the Hurricanes (21-1) to the PIAA Class AA title game for the second straight year. Villa Maria will meet District 2 champion Crestwood, a 3-2 winner in double overtime against Greenwood on Tuesday, for the championship on Saturday (12 p.m.) at Whitehall-Coplay.

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“I knew I had to be an option for Amelia,” said an elated Mackrides.“I tried to come out wide to draw the goalie, and Amelia made aperfect pass. We drill going around thegoalie every day in practice.I just knew I had to keep my stick out front and keep moving. Once Igot past the goalie it was just me and the cage, and I just had to domy part.”

The Hurricanes controlled much of the action in the first half, out-shooting the Indians, 3-1, and holding an 8-1 edge in corners.

“It was a defensive duel,” said Villa coach Maurene Polley. “When wewatched tape of Donegal, we knew that this was going to be the bestteam we’d faced. They play great defense, and have some athletes atforward.”

Donegal came out of the break looking like a different team,controlling possession with crisp, purposeful passes and wiping outthe advantage in corners, pressuring the Villa defense.

“I think we let Villa dictate the game early on, and we played totheir style,” said Donegal assistant coach Lauren DiNapoli-Pogue,sitting in for head coach Jessica Shellenberger, who had just givenbirth the day prior. “We came out in the second half and playedDonegal field hockey, playing more of a possession game.”

But Villa was up to the task, and generally cleared balls with out ashot. The Indians had just four shots on goal all game,though atleast one of the balls clanging off the post came in the overtimeperiod, enough to put a scare into the Villa faithful.

“It was nerve-wracking,” said Mackrides. “But seeing the balls go offthe post just said to me that we were given more chances, and thatwe’d just have to take advantage of them.”

Leading the defensive effort was senior co-captain Maura Zarkoski,who was a virtual brick wall on the defensive side of the field.

“This was a very even game, with both teams playing really well,” saidZarkoski. “I just knew I had to take care of any ball in thebackfield. Just keep doing my job, and eventually, as we all justhandled our jobs, it would work out for us. I can’t describe howexcited I am right now. I literally cried when I saw the ball go inthe goal.”

Color Polley impressed with the play of her defense, too.

“When we came off the field I told the forwards that they need to turnaround and say thank you to the defense,” said Polley. “They are thereason we won this game.”

Donegal, the third-place finisher from District 3, finished its seasonat 25-5-1.

“They left their hearts and souls out there today,” saidDiNapoli-Pogue. “It’s a game of bounces, and things just didn’t bounceour way today. But they left everything on the field, and that’s alla coach can ask for.”

With the win, the Hurricanes advance to the PIAA Class AAchampionship game for the second straight year, and hope to come awaywith a better outcome this time around, having lost to WyomingSeminary last season.

“It just feels awesome to be getting a second chance to play a statetitle game,” said Iacobucci. “We’ve come really far as a team, andbeing in such a tight game today is great preparation. We know wehave to play hard every minute and all the way to the end. You simplycan’t let up for a second.”